AQA · GCSE · Biology
Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018
In the human body, these include control of: • blood glucose concentration…
Full specification wording
Homeostasis: In the human body, these include control of: • blood glucose concentration • body temperature • water levels.
The human body regulates several key internal conditions.
Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 5
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The human body regulates several key internal conditions. Blood glucose concentration is controlled by insulin and glucagon from the pancreas: insulin lowers glucose by promoting uptake into cells and storage as glycogen, while glucagon raises it by releasing glucose from glycogen. Body temperature is controlled by responses such as sweating, vasodilation, shivering and vasoconstriction, which balance heat loss and heat gain. Water and ion levels are controlled by the kidneys, which adjust the volume and concentration of urine; ADH from the pituitary gland controls how much water is reabsorbed. Each example follows the same pattern: a receptor detects the change, a coordination centre processes it, and effectors restore the optimum by negative feedback.
What earns the marks
- Blood glucose concentration is controlled by insulin and glucagon acting on the liver and body cells.
- Insulin lowers blood glucose by increasing uptake into cells and converting glucose to glycogen for storage.
- Body temperature is controlled by responses including sweating, shivering, vasodilation and vasoconstriction.
- Water levels are controlled by the kidneys, which vary the volume and concentration of urine produced.
- ADH from the pituitary gland controls the amount of water reabsorbed by the kidney tubules.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Saying insulin converts glucose into glucagon.
Put it right by stating that insulin converts glucose into glycogen for storage.
Confusing vasodilation with vasoconstriction.
Put it right by stating that vasodilation widens vessels to lose heat and vasoconstriction narrows them to conserve heat.
Stating that the kidneys make water.
Put it right by stating that the kidneys regulate water loss by reabsorbing water and excreting the remainder in urine.
Exam tips
- For each example, name the receptor, coordination centre and effector to show the full control pathway.
- Use the terms glycogen and glucagon carefully, and check which one is the storage molecule and which is the hormone.
- When describing temperature control, state whether the response increases or decreases heat loss.
Try the lesson
The start of the Homeostasis: In the human body, these include control of: • blood glucose concentration • body temperature • water levels. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Homeostasis regulates internal conditions to maintain optimum function. Which three internal conditions are key examples of this regulation in the human body?
Listen
The human body regulates several key internal conditions. Blood glucose concentration is controlled by insulin and glucagon from the pancreas: insulin lowers glucose by promoting uptake into cells and storage as glycogen, while glucagon raises it by releasing glucose from glycogen. Body temperature is controlled by responses such as sweating, vasodilation, shivering and vasoconstriction, which balance heat loss and heat gain. Water and ion levels are controlled by the kidneys, which adjust the volume and concentration of urine; ADH from the pituitary gland controls how much water is reabsorbed. Each example follows the same pattern: a receptor detects the change, a coordination centre processes it, and effectors restore the optimum by negative feedback. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Blood glucose concentration is controlled by insulin and glucagon acting on the liver and body cells. Insulin lowers blood glucose by increasing uptake into cells and converting glucose to glycogen for storage. Body temperature is controlled by responses including sweating, shivering, vasodilation and vasoconstriction. Water levels are controlled by the kidneys, which vary the volume and concentration of urine produced. A common slip: Saying insulin converts glucose into glucagon. Instead, stating that insulin converts glucose into glycogen for storage. Exam tip: For each example, name the receptor, coordination centre and effector to show the full control pathway.
Key words
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Insulin
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Glucagon
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Negative feedback
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ADH
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See every definition
- Insulin
- A hormone from the pancreas that lowers blood glucose by promoting uptake into cells and storage as glycogen.
- Glucagon
- A hormone from the pancreas that raises blood glucose by releasing glucose from glycogen.
- Negative feedback
- A pattern in which a receptor detects the change, a coordination centre processes it, and effectors restore the optimum.
- ADH
- A hormone from the pituitary gland that controls how much water is reabsorbed by the kidney tubules.
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